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How Essential Oils Can Fight Common Skin and Hair Problems

03 Mar 20160

Those who use essential oils in their daily skin and hair regimes have nothing but praise for these natural ingredients. When studying the benefits of using these oils, this comes as no surprise, as these sweet-smelling and aromatic liquids pack a powerful punch. Not only can they assist your skin with common issues such as aging, acne, eczema, scars, oiliness, and dryness, but they also help your hair to remain in top condition whilst combating hair loss, dandruff and a whole host of other problems. There are a number of much-loved essential oils which assist with all of the conditions described above and the good news is that they’re not difficult to acquire at all. In fact, you’ll find many of the essential oils mentioned below on our Products page! Using essential oils to help your skin:Aging: Just as though we can’t stop time from ticking away, we cannot stop aging – or so it seems! While essential oils won’t miraculously make you appear twenty years younger, they can erase some signs of aging on your skin, plus they can also help to reduce the rate at which your skin continues to age. Geranium essential oil is the perfect all-rounder for skincare, however its anti-aging properties are particularly impressive. Not only does it work to improve skin elasticity, therefore tightening skin, but it also helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Frankincense essential oil also protects existing cells and encourages new cell growth, leading to less visible wrinkles and naturally tightened skin. Additional essential oils which have similar effects include lavender, myrrh, neroli, patchouli, rose, and ylang ylang. Acne: Almost everyone will suffer from acne at some point in their lives, whether the breakout is mild or severe. However, you’ll be pleased to know that there are a multitude of essential oils which can help with this condition. Tea tree essential oil is considered the number one natural treatment for acne, as it reduces both inflammation and redness whilst adding antibacterial properties to the skin. Other beneficial essential oils include lavender, frankincense, lemon, geranium, patchouli, oregano, and rosemary. While most essential oils need to be combined with a carrier oil in order to apply them to the skin, other essential oils such as tea tree and lavender can be applied directly to the blemish using a cotton swab. Eczema: In contrast to chemist-supplied medication, essential oils can actually provide an affordable, natural, and safe alternative for eczema sufferers. Carrot seed essential oil has ample healing properties, as it calms conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis whilst toning skin tissue and adding elasticity. Other powerful essential oils for treating this condition include chamomile, lavender, bergamot, birch, tea tree, rosemary, balsam, cedar wood, geranium, mandarin, rosewood, and marigold (tagetes). In order to safely apply these oils to the skin, it is recommended that they are turned into compresses, lotions, sprays, or oil blends using other complimentary and healing ingredients. These might include carrier oils, vitamin E cream, or water. Scars: You’d be hard-pressed to find another human being without even the smallest scar on their body. Since this is such a common skin blemish that affects us all, why not treat your scar with a healing essential oil? While just a single application of essential oils to your scar tissue won’t heal it overnight, daily use of these natural remedies over a prolonged period of time (such as 3 – 6 months) will make an impact. Carrot seed oil is a great all-rounder for using on your skin and it is particularly helpful with diminishing scars, thanks to its powerful antioxidant properties. Geranium essential oil is another beneficial treatment, as it stimulates the lymphatic system, eliminates toxins, and has cicatrisant properties to make scars fade over time. Other wonderful essential oils include cedarwood, hyssop, juniper, rose, patchouli, lavender, and myrrh. Oily skin: Did you know that some essential oils even contain properties which help to regulate your skin’s oil production? With additional antibacterial qualities, the following essential oils will even help to keep blemishes such as acne at bay. These include: orange, lemon, lime, bergamot, geranium, and cypress. Many users recommend using jojoba oil as a carrier oil as it moisturises the skin whilst preventing it from feeling or looking oily. Dry skin: For those suffering from dry, flaky, or chapped skin, they require additional moisturising properties from their essential oils. Argan oil and rose hip oil are both deeply nourishing, whilst other oils including cedarwood, geranium, myrrh, sandalwood, palmarosa, and Roman or German chamomile will also assist to restore your skin’s moisture levels. A carrier oil such as shea butter or cocoa butter will also help to give you healthy-looking skin in no time! Using essential oils to help your hair:Hair loss: Although purely cosmetic, hair loss is still a condition that can affect both a person’s confidence and self-esteem. While procedures such as laser can restore hair, it can also be a costly (and sometimes painful) experience. Thankfully, there are multiple essential oils which can work wonders for preventing hair loss too, as they stimulate the hair follicles which increases circulation (and nutrients) to the scalp. Thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood were found to be the most effective in treating hair loss, as discovered by the Department of Dermatology of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom. Their benefits were further enhanced when the essential oils were combined with carrier oils such as black seed, borage, arnica, calendula, jojoba, coconut, evening primrose, and macadamia. Dandruff: Essential oils can even help to treat dandruff by soothing and calming the scalp. Although there is no overnight cure for this condition, prolonged use of essential oils as a natural remedy for dandruff will actually work wonders to finally rid your scalp of dandruff – once and for all! Tea tree oil is a powerful treatment for dandruff (when mixed with a carrier oil to avoid burning a sensitive scalp) due to its antiseptic, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties. These work to kill yeast, bacteria, and other dandruff-causing germs. Other beneficial oils include lavender, rosemary, thyme, peppermint, patchouli, and chamomile. Dryness: If your hair is dry and brittle, then fear not! There are a number of essential oils which will help to restore moisture and nutrients to those strands in no time. Lemongrass is great for this condition as it balances oil whilst soothing the scalp. Lavender oil not only cleanses hair, but also works to effectively moisturize a dry scalp and brittle hair. Other helpful essential oils include rosemary and sandalwood. Oiliness: If your hair is always on the oily side, then you might be hesitant to combat this condition by adding even more oil to it. The truth is, certain essential oils are perfect at balancing oil levels in your hair, plus they are natural, smell great, and contain a number of other health benefits. Peppermint, lemon and lavender essential oils are all extremely beneficial to an oily scalp, and when combined with a carrier oil of your choice and left on the scalp for 60 – 90 minutes, you’ll be left with fresh, clean, and aromatic locks for days. Dullness: Have you ever glanced in the mirror and thought your hair colour was looking less than lovely? When we’re over-tired, stressed, or not filling our bodies with enough nutrition, our hair can tend to look a little on the dull side. Regularly massaging with lavender essential oil can make your hair both soft and shiny, whilst chamomile is great for adding golden highlights to blonde hair and a beautiful sheen to darker hair. Next time you’re looking to combat one of the above skin or hair conditions, be sure to turn to essential oils for relief, treatment, and a final cure! Not only are essential oils derived straight from nature, but they’re also free from many of the chemicals and other nasties that store-bought medicinal products contain.